BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Fifth grade teacher Zack Sinyard was worried some students at Gresham Elementary School wouldn’t be safe during an emergency.

That’s why Sinyard applied for the One Class At A Time grant program.

“In the event of a fire drill, we don’t have a way to get our children in wheelchairs out of the school appropriately or really quick,” Sinyard explained. “So, [I] applied for this for a wheelchair evacuation system.”

Sinyard was presented a $1,000 grant as the winner of this week’s One Class At A Time grant program.

He says during an emergency, such as a fire, the school’s elevators will shut down. Without the elevators working, students in wheelchairs would have to be carried down flights of stairs.

That’s why Sinyard is so very grateful to receive the money.

He says he can already envision the evacuation chairs in place and a safer environment for all of his students.

“It takes a load off my mind and I’m just glad that other people care about people with disabilities,” Sinyard explained.

CBS42’s co-sponsors for the One Class At A Time project are Pepsi and America’s First Financial.